Pull-apart envelopes



Oct. 30, 1962 J. zALKrND 1=-uLr,-AP.RTy ENvELoPEs Filed July 3, 1961 INVEN TOR. d0 856// z,4,e//v0,

TTE/VEK arent fisc 3,061,174 Patented oct. so, 1962 3,061,17 4 PULL-APART ENVELOPES Joseph Zalkind, 15 E. 18th St., New York, N.Y.

Filed July 3, 1961, Ser. No. 123,365 12 Claims. (Cl. 229-85) that may readily be pulled apart in a machine of the type shown in my Patent No. 2,812,56-7, issued Novem* ber 12, 1957.

It is an additional object of my invention to provide an envelope in` which an insert may be placed without, however, affecting the ability of the envelope to be pulled apart by tensileY forces effected by opposing clamps or by human hands. It is a still further object of the invention to provide an envelope which will hold an insert in such a manner that the side margins of therenvelope may be gripped to pull the envelope apart without, however, gripping-both ends of the insert right through the envelope material to thus defeat the pull-apart function.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an envelope which may be made on standard,'envelope making machines `and gluing machines readily and .economically. i

It is lan even additional object of my invention to provide an envelope that will secure an insert in a predetermined position within the length thereof and at the same time provide a stiffening reinforcement or protect against bending or distorting of the envelope or insert in mail transit, particularly to reinforce the perforate line extending around the envelope.

Other objects and features of my invention will be -apparent from the description .to follow. Y

Briefly, my invention comprises an envelope of generally standard shape and prepared from a generally standard blank except for .the provision of a lineof perforations running completely around the envelope from top to bottom, whereby the sides of the envelope may be gripped and the envelope pulled apart thereby, by virtue of the perforations. However, in order to predetermined-ly place a particular insert, for example, a business machine card, in the envelope, and not have it destroyed when the envelope is. pulled apart, I provide means to Yinsure the positioning .of such insert toward one end or the other of the envelope, or intermediate the ends so that the ends of the envelope may be gripped without, however, actually gripping the insert or, in any event, without exerting Itension on the insert. This is done by .effecting a foreshortened envelope in either of several ways. Thus, a reinforcing card or possibly a heavy paper panel may be placed inside the envelope and marginally glued to an interiorrsurface of the envelope adjacent one edge. Thus, the width of the glued margin shortens the envelope by the amount of such width and the insert is then placed between the card or paper reinforcement and the envelope panel, be it front or rear, to which such card or `paper reinforcement is marginally glued.

Another arrangement would be to foreshorten the envelope by gluing one of the end fiaps fully Ito the panel against which it is folded. This would provide an envelope end into which anrinsert could not protrude, and which envelope end would effect a margin that could be gripped by hand or in a machine clamp and pulled without exertingany force on the insert. l

Preferably, however, the reinforcing panel is marginally glued at each of its ends within the envelopes to position the insert so that upon pulling the envelope apart, by machine, the insert can be removed without opening the machine clamps. This is particularly advantageous where a large batch of envelopes yare simultaneously pulled apart.

Further, I provide various types of perforations running zigzag or slantwise from top to bottom of the envelope, so as to avoid an inherent line of weakness which might influence bending of the envelope in a line normal -to the top and bottom .edges due to handling in mail transit.

I also provide certain types of perforations particularly adapted to insure against accidental parting of the envelope portions due to rough handling.

A detailed description of my invention now follows in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

iFIG. l illustrates -an envelope blank of a type utilized in the invention.

lFIG. 2 illustrates essentially the same blank, but modified so as to be foreshortened for different lengths of inserts.

FIG. 2a is a modification of FIG. 2.

FIG. 2b is another modification of FIG. 2.

1FIG. 3 shows a complete and sealed envelope with a reinforcing member or card therein, and is a further modification of the invention. v

FIG. 4 is a further modification, as to the type of perforation arrangement, as compared with FIGS. l and 3.

rFIG. 5 is a section through 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a modiiication of a particular type of perforation useable in the invention.

FIG. 7 is a further modification of a particular type of perforation useable in the invention.

FIG. 8 is a section taken on line 8 8 `of FIG. 2 through an envelope folded and completed from the blank of FIG. 2; and i FIG. 9 is a 'section through 9--9 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows an envelope blank 10 having a front panel 213, side panels or flaps 16 and 19, a bottom panel or fiap 23, -an-d top panel or flap 26. It will be noted that the various panels are all joined by the usual -fold lines, as indicated by dashed lines, all in a conventional manner. Extending from top to bottom edge of the blank, that is, from the outer edges of aps 26 and 23, completely across panel 13, is a perforate line 30. Secured to the face of the panel which will be inside the envelope, namely, the face shown in FIG. l, is a card or stiffening panel of cardboard 33 extending across perforations 30, wherein the right-hand margin 36, demarcated by the dotted line, is glued to the contiguous face of panel 13.

The construction leaves a foreshortened space between card 33 and front panel 13, and a full envelope length space between card 33 and rear flap 23. However, the

full length space -is not used in the present invention, but the space between card 33 and panel 13 is used by virtue of its being foreshortened at the marginally glued area 36. In other words, the envelope from side edge to side edge has been shortened by a distance equal to the width of margin 36. If now, a slip of paper or a business machine card C be placed in the envelope intermediate card 33 and panel 13, it will be seen that such insert is maintained in a position shifted toward the left asviewed on, FIG. 3. It will thus be appreciated that the righthand end of the envelope can be grasped and pinched, for example, in a clamp, without gripping the right-hand end of card C. Accordingly, the envelope or a batch of such envelopes may be put in a clamp-type pulling machine such as is shown in my Patent #2,812,567, issued November 12, 1957, and by applying tension in the machine, the envelopes will be literally pulled apart at the n; respective perforate lines 30, thus effecting ready removal of the cards C.

It will, of course, be understood that a machine is not necessary to effect pulling apart of envelopes, at least individually. Thus, if the right and left-hand margins of an envelope are grasped and pulled manually, the envelope will separate along the perforate line 30, leaving the card C extending outwardly of the left-hand portion of the now separated envelope portions.

While I prefer to use a stilener card, such as the card 33, to strengthen the envelope against bending in the mails which might weaken the perforate line 30, or at least a heavy piece of paper inside the envelope to reinforce the envelope and its contents, it will be appreciated that an envelope may be made with a shorter reinforcing card 33', glued to panel 13 at marginal area 36', FIG. 2, at one side of perforate line 30. Thus, considering FIG. 2, it will be understood that such construction is to enable the use of relatively long envelopes which may be more readily suited to iit certain types of separator machines than envelopes close to the actual size of very short inserts.

On the other hand, by applying adhesive to flap 19 (or 16) as indicated by the dotted area on ap 19, a foreshortened envelope, due to adherence of the ap to panel 13, is effected, for a longer insert. Thus, card 33 is then solely a reinforcement for the perforate line. However, the same envelope would then be useable for inserts of considerable variation in length.

It lwill be noted in FIG. 2a that flaps 16 and 19 are prepared with glue surfacing so that they can be glued to panel 13 to foreshorten the envelope at both ends. Thus, no special card at 33- is used; however, the reinforcement of the perforate line 30 is sacrificed, which may be acceptable at times. `If a batch of envelopes as shown in FIG. 2a are pulled apart in the pulling clamps of -a machine as described in the aforementioned patent, the entire batch of cards would then be lifted away due to the double foreshortening without the necessity for loosening the clamp at either end of the envelopes, since neither end of the cards would be gripped in a clamp. It will also be appreciated that by placing the perforate line 30 closer toward one edge of the envelope than the other, as shown in FIGS. l and 2, a frictional bias for tentatively retaining the cards in the longer portion of the separated envelope will be realized, so that all cards will be ready to be grasped in a batch and pulled out.

While FIG. 2a has been shown as an envelope to be foreshortened at both ends in order to render card grasping convenient without opening the machine clamp, it will, of course, be understood that either end of the envelope can be foreshortened by adherence of either ap 16 or 19 to panel 13.

As shown in FIG. 2b, which illustrates an envelope formed from a blank similar to FIG. 2, the side Hap 19 is glued marginally at 60 to the front panel of the envelope. However, the flap 19 extends considerably beyond the glued area, having an extension 63 to constitute a reinforcing panel for perforate line 30, and it could be marginally glued at either the front panel of the envelope or for any predetermined distance to the rear flap or panel of the envelope, depending on the degree of foreshortening desired either at the front of the ap extension or at the rear, for different sizes of inserts. Further, the flap extension could extend to the left end of the envelope and be glued for additional foreshortening at that end, if desired. In such case, of course, the extension would be provided with a perforate line like line 44 of card 40 in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an envelope is shown having a reinforcing card 40 therein, which is somewhat longer than the reinforcing card 83 of FIG. l and may extend to the left edge of the envelope, being marginally glued at the right end in a manner corresponding to that de- Yscribed hereinabove for card 33. Card 40 is intended to be pulled apart and is therefore provided with a series of perforations 44 extending at a slant thereacross. The envelope itself is provided with a slanted series of perforations 47 which will be understood to extend completely from top to bottom edge of the envelope blank. In this instance, the perforate lines 44 and 47 are placed at respective pronounced slants, crossing each other, so as to avoid effecting a weakened bendable line from top to bottom of the closed envelope. In Post Oice handling of mail, where envelopes are stacked in bunches and roughly handled, the tendency to bend a batch of mail in a line from top to bottom of the envelope is not augmented by virtue of the existence of the slanted perforate lines. In other words, by placing the perforate lines in a slant along an angle at which bending of envelope mail is not likely to occur, the envelopes are not inherently weakened and by avoiding superimposition of the perforate lines, weakness is avoided. It will, of course, be appreciated that the left margin of card 40 may be glued in the envelope to provide double foreshortening to space the insert out of the clamps of a pulling machine so that, upon envelope separation at the lines 44, 47, the insert can be removed without unclamping of the machine.

Referring to FIG. 4, an alternative arrangement for avoiding weakening of the envelope by virtue of the existence of a perforate line is shown, wherein the perforate line 50 is in zigzag array. Further, in this form of the invention, the cross-section through 5 5 (FIG. 5) shows that the reinforcing card or panel 33 may be marginally glued at its front and back in the envelope so that a foreshortened pocket at each face of the reinforcing card is provided to eliminate any possible mistake on the part of operators. In other words, regardless of which side of card 33 the insert is placed on, the envelope is foreshortened and such insert cannot possibly slide to that end of the envelope which is to be grasped in a machine clamp, wherein the clamp is not intended to grip the insert at that end of the machine. Further, card 33 (if properly perforated at 44) may be thus glued on both marginal faces at the other end of the envelope as well, thus effecting double foreshortening of the envelope so that upon machine separation, as in the case of FIG. 2a no unclamping is needed in order to free the inserts of a batch of separated envelopes.

A wide variety of types of perforations are possible. For example, in FIG. 6 a perforation is shown which consists of a zigzag series of slits 53 having unperforated vertices 56 therebetween. Such an arrangement provides a stronger perforate line, by virtue of the uncut material intermediate the individual slits, so that even though slits 53 may be cut entirely through the paper, the envelope will not separate except upon definite pulling force necessary to tear the multitudinous solid portions 56.

FIG. 7 shows a further form of perforation which may be useable in that a series of parallel slits 60 are aligned all in a vfixed slant such that the webs between the slits must be torn apart in order to separate the envelope portions.

It will, of course, be understood that an elongated, reinforcing panel, such as 40, might also be used in the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, instead of the foreshortened card indicated. In such instance, it will be appreciated that the perforate line in such reinforcing panel would be of the same shape as the perforate line 50 except that, segment for segment, the slant would be reversed in a manner similar to the reverse of slants of perforate lines 44 and 47.

Having thus described my invention I am aware that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and, accordingly, I do not seek to be limited to the precise illustration herein given except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A pull-apart envelope comprising front and rear panel elements and a perforate line extending completely #e und U around said elements, whereby said envelope may be gripped at side edges and pulled apart, and means within said envelope to foreshorten the length thereof between the side edges so that an insert may be placed inside said envelope and thus prevented from extending toward the side edge at which said foreshortening means is disposed, said foreshortening means comprising a foreshortening and reinforcing interior panel within said envelope extending across said perforate line and having a predetermined width of margin secured to at least one of said panel elements so as to block off a portion of the interior length of said envelope between said interior panel and the envelope panel element to which it is secured.

2. @In an envelope as set forth in claim 1, said interior panel being an extension of a portion of said envelope material.

3. In an envelope as set forth in claim 2, wherein said interior panel extends substantially the length of said envelope and is provided with a perforate line so as to be pulled apart when said envelope is pulled apart.

4. In an envelope as set forth in `claim 3, wherein the perforate line of said envelope is slanted with respect to the top and bottom edges thereof and the perforate line of said interior panel is slanted in non-superimposed relation to the perforate line of said envelope.

5. |In an envelope as set forth in claim 1, wherein said envelope has a side iiap and said interior panel is an extension thereof.

6. In a pull-apart envelope, a front and rear panel, and an interior reinforcing and foreshortening panelv within said envelope having a margin glued to the margins of said front and rear panels at one side of said envelope, a perforate line extending completely around said envelope, said interior panel extending beyond said perforate line to effect reinforcement of said envelope, said interior panel terminating short of the other side yof said envelope whereby said other side may be gripped without gripping said interior panel.

7. A pull-apart envelope having a perforate line therearound, a reinforcing panel within said envelope and extending aeross said perforate line and secured to said envelope at one side of said perforate line.

8. A pull-apart envelope having a pair of main panels and a side panel carried by one of said main panels and a perforate line extending completely around said envelope through said main panels, said main panels being foldably joined to each other to form the front and back of said envelope, said side panel being between said main panels within said envelope and glued to both of said main panels to effect a foreshortening of said envelope, said side panel having a portion extending substantially into said envelope and being free of said main panels to eiect a reinforcement of sai-d envelope and being of sufficient length to bridge said perforate line.

9. A pull-apart envelope comprising front and rear panel elements and a perforate line extending completely around said elements, whereby said envelope may be gripped at side edges and pulled apart, the side edges of said envelope being foreshortened for a predetermined marginal width in order to foreshorten the open space between said front and said rear panel elements, whereby an insert within said envelope is prevented from extending toward the side edges thereof and whereby said envelope may be pulled apart by tension exerted between said side edges by the use of means for gripping said side edges without, however, gripping said insert.

10. -In an envelope as set forth in claim 9, said perforate line being closer to one of said side edges than to the other of said side edges, whereby a greater frictional drag on an insert occurs at that one side of said perforate line so that said insert will remain in that portion of the envelope having said greater frictional drag after said envelope has been pulled apart at said perforate line.

11. in an envelope as set forth in claim 10, including a reinforcing panel secured within said envelope and extending across said perforate line.

12. In an envelope as set forth in claim 9, including a reinforcing panel secured within said envelope and extending across said perforate line.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 673,224 Rosenberg Apr. 30, 1901 702,100 Keller June 10, 1902 1,180,542 Roden Apr. 25, 1916 2,204,690 Nuyts lune 18, 1940 2,815,898 Thompson Dec. 10, 1957 

